"[Research shows that] some 300,000 people in the United States suffer from multiple sclerosis, which destroys the myelin sheaths that insulate nerve cells" (5, 1997). Since multiple sclerosis is only one of the many different demyelinating diseases there are many people who's future depends on the research of the Myelin Project.

MS is a disease that destroys myelin and causes poor conduction of nerve impulses among axons. MS eventually blocks all nerve impulses from traveling through the spinal cord. Researchers from the Myelin Project have discovered some processes which allows them to remyelinate the damaged areas of the central nervous system. The first process consist of transplanting myelin in the areas of the CNS containing demyelination. An oligodendrocyte is a specialized cell that synthesizes myelin. Oligodendrocytes originate from immature cells in the brain. These immature cells, called progenitor cells, congregate in a specific part of the brain where they mature into myelin producing oligodendrocytes.

Transplanting progenitor cells into the brain has also proved to be a success toward repairing myelin damage to the central nervous system. The reason transplanting progenitor cells into the brain has not been possible before now is because these cells could not be produced in large enough numbers. Researchers have now discovered a way to grow progenitor cells in tissue culture using the fibroblast growth factor and platelet-derived growth factor together which cause the cells to divide without maturing into oligodendrocytes. "These progenitor cells when transplanted into the brains of rats with experimentally induced demyelination were able to differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes and remyelinate the demyelinated regions" (2, 1996). If this process can be converted to work on humans it would probably have the longest and most efficient effect on demyelination diseases.

Although researchers are making exciting new progress in remyelinating damage of the central nervous system, there are still obstacles slowing the completion of this research. For example, in transplanting myelin into the damaged areas of the CNS "concerns [have] risen by persons with long-term MS that some, or even all, of their nerve axons may not have survived over the long period of time of inactivity due to long-standing damage" (1, 1997). This problem only applies to persons who have had MS for a long period of time and have no surviving axons. However, a very small number of axons is all that is required for remyelination to be effective.

Another problem slowing the progress of this project deals with growing and transplanting progenitor cells. One problem is that human progenitor cells cannot be grown using the same process that was used with rats. In addition, human progenitor cells grow differently than rat progenitor cells and until the cause of the growth indifference can be identified both growing and transplanting human progenitor cells is impossible.

Demyelinating diseases fall into two categories; Acquiring diseases and Hereditary diseases. Acquiring diseases included MS and other diseases which symptoms include any combination of spastic paraparesis, unsteady gait, diplopia and incontinence. Acquiring diseases usually manifest themselves in the body during early to late adulthood whereas hereditary diseases tend to manifest themselves in infancy or early childhood. Hereditary diseases are diseases that consist of leukodystrophies. Leukodystrophies are storage disorders which cause a toxic build-up of chemical substances and eventually promote paralysis.

In conclusion, the search for a way to reduce and eventually cure demyelinating diseases seems to be just over the horizon. Since researchers have successfully remyelinated damaged areas in the CNS and learned to transplant progenitor cells into the brain of rats the only obstacles standing in the way of completion to the Myelin Project is learning how to replicate the process for human use and identify and stop the attacks on axons in the CNS. The Myelin Project looks promising for the future of MS patients and others suffering with demyelinating diseases.

1.Chinn, Jo-Ann. "Exciting News From the Myelin Project. " The Myelin Project. http://aspin.asu.edu/msnews/chinn1.htm (18 Feb. 1997).

2.Chinn, Jo-Ann. "Research Directed Towards Understanding Demyelination- An Overview." The Myelin Project. http://aspin.asu.edu/msnews/restor.htm (8 Mar. 1997).

3.Odone, Augusto. "The Myelin Project." The Myelin Project. http://www.colossus.infosci.org/Myelin-Project/intro.htm (6 Dec. 1996).

4.Steeves, Dr. John D. "Steeves Lab Research Highlights." The Myelin Project. http://cord.ubc.ca/~steeves/hilights.htm (23 Aug. 1996).

5.The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. "Hope For M.S. Patients--If Cell Grafts Stick." The Myelin Project. http://www.businessweek.com/1997/03/b3510104.htm (9 Jan. 1997).